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While the citizens wait for the warmer weather to materialize so they can chase their summer dreams, City Council is looking ahead to winter already, in hopes of avoiding what was a "disastrous set of circumstances," in the words of Coun. Mark King, with regards to safety and accessibility at transit stops in early 2017.
"There will be sidewalk construction on McKeown Avenue, which was highlighted in the news during the winter, to access and improve that particular bus stop, by providing a sidewalk which will see proper plowing," said King, adding that the purchase of a van-style parabus will also be among the dozen projects the funding will go toward.
BayToday readers and transit users commented on our boards at the time of the bus stop closure that the stop on McKeown Avenue across from the McNamara Street intersection (see photo above), west of the closed stop near McKeown Commons, was equally dangerous when not cleared properly. There is no mention of a sidewalk being constructed on McKeown Avenue across from the McNamara intersection in the report.
At Tuesday's regular meeting, Council passed an execution by-law to enter into an agreement with the provincial Ministry of Transportation to receive funding in the amount of $1,220,500 from the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, a federal initiative. The funds will cover half of the $2.4 million needed to complete 12 transit-related projects, including:
- installing an electronic fare box system on all transit fleet vehicles;
- enhancing the hoist system at the fleet maintenance garage;
- installing sidewalks on McKeown Avenue from Cartier Street to Champlain Street;
- installing security cameras on all transit fleet vehicles;
- replacing an existing parabus and purchasing one additional parabus;
- improving the transit vehicle storage facility;
- improving the transit vehicle wash facility;
- installing ten (10) new bus shelters;
- enhancing the accessibility of bus stops;
- installing digital signage at key bus stops and transfer locations;
- installing a traffic light pre-emption system for all transit fleet vehicles; and
- installing passenger counters on all transit fleet vehicles.
According to the Community Services report, "The total estimated eligible cost of the twelve transit-related projects is $2,441,000. The City of North Bay’s contribution to these projects will be funded using a combination of Provincial Dedicated Gas Tax funds, Development Charges and through the transfer of unspent budget authority from existing Transit Capital Budgets.
"In Ontario, PTIF is being implemented by the Ministry of Transportation which calculated the maximum amount of funding available to each municipality based on a base contribution of $50,000 plus an additional amount based on ridership."
Earlier on Tuesday evening, Council passed amendments to the overnight parking prohibition.
Coun. Tanya Vrebosch, Chair of Public Works, said the hope was that by keeping the designated areas free of vehicles until the appointed times, that plows and sanders would find their routes easier and safer to manage, thereby allowing them the time to clear those areas that were often left until later in the shift in past winters.
With the expected efficiencies derived from the extended parking ban, the goal is that more frequent snow removal in problem areas, especially those with identified accessibility issues, can be undertaken.
